New York Islanders centre Mathew Barzal of Coquitlam, British Columbia registered his second career Stanley Cup playoff overtime winner on Saturday. He accomplished the feat in a 3-2 Islanders win over the Carolina Hurricanes at 1:24 of the second overtime in Elmont, New York. With the win, the Islanders stayed alive in the playoffs, but still trail the Hurricanes three games to one in the best out of seven first round playoff series.
Barzal scored the overtime winner from defenseman Robert Bortuzzo of Thunder Bay, Ontario and Bo Horvat of London, Ontario on an all-Canadian goal. Barzal’s game-winning goal came was a deflection on a shot from the point by Bortuzzo.
This was Barzal’s second goal of the series and second of the game. He initially tied the game at one at 10:10 of the second period from defenseman Adam Pelech of Toronto, Ontario and Horvat on another all-Canadian goal. The other Islander goal scorer was also Canadian as Jean Gabriel-Pageau of Ottawa, Ontario put the Islanders up 2-1 at 1:38 of the third period on the power-play.
Barzal’s first overtime winner in the Stanley Cup Playoffs came on August 16, 2020 in the Toronto bubble. Barzal scored in game three of the first round of the playoffs, in a 2-1 Islanders win over the Washington Capitals.
